McLean Precinct Adjustments Proposed Based On Redistricting

MCLEAN, VA — Changes or adjustments to 154 voting precincts in Fairfax County will be considered based on redistricting impacts.

In December, the Virginia Supreme Court approved redrawn state legislative and congressional districts that will take effect with the next elections. Those redrawn districts created split precincts in Fairfax County. Per Virginia law, precincts must be entirely in a magisterial district, state senate district, delegate district and congressional district. There are 54 precincts split by redistricting, and the county is proposing changes to another 100 to remedy split precincts.

The proposed changes will eliminate split precincts before the June 21 primary, if held. On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors set a public hearing on the precinct changes for March 8.

The county estimates 29,000 voters, or less than 4 percent of registered Fairfax County voters, would be impacted by the proposed changes. Approximately 87,000 voters impacted by redistricting would be kept at the same polling place under the proposal.

If the changes are adopted, a review from the Virginia attorney general will follow to determine if the changes follow the Virginia voting rights act. Fairfax County's Office of Elections would notify affected voters by mail. The county anticipates a one-time cost of $501,840 in 2022 and annual cost of $54,400 to implement the precinct adjustments.

There are several changes proposed in the McLean area:

The 317 Westhampton precinct was split by redistricting. The county proposes maintaining the western portion with 1,036 voters with voting continuing at Lemon Road Elementary School. The eastern part of 317 Westhampton with 1,406 voters would be merged with 307 Haycock with 2,686 existing voters. The precinct would be named 307 Haycock and continue to vote at Haycock Elementary School.

The 316 Salona #1 and 333 Salona #2 precincts had been previously divided by a political boundary. The county proposes merging 316 Salona #1 with 1,072 voters and 333 Salona #2 with 1,935 voters. The precinct would be renamed 316 Salona and continue to vote at Franklin Sherman Elementary School.

The 302 Chesterbrook precinct has no boundary change but will permanently co-locate and vote at Chesterbrook Elementary School.

The full precinct changes proposal is available in the Board of Supervisors agenda starting at page 76.